Half of all marriages end in divorce. But the emotional devastation that often accompanies the end of a relationship doesnât have to be a fact as well. There must be a better way. That is the thinking behind Collaborative Divorce (also called Collaborative Practice). This relatively new branch of Family Law offers couples an alternative to âdivorce as usualâ. Couples agree to avoid court, transparency in communication, and interest- and needs-based negotiations. Mental health professionals, trained as Divorce Coaches and Child Specialists are often part of this process. Each client has an attorney and a Divorce Coach, while frequently other neutral professionals assist in the process in order to achieve lasting agreements, which stabilize the family. The divorcing couple works with their coaches to identify their goals, needs and interests, and to enhance communication skills, self-management and negotiation skills. These skills help make the divorce process more efficient and less overwhelming. When there are children the creation of a parenting plan that best serves the need of their family is central. This presentation by an attorney and psychologist/divorce coach will explain this model to attendees. We will describe the various alternatives, in addition to Collaborative Divorce, that couples can choose to divorce or end a domestic partnership.

Ann Buscho, PhD is licensed as a clinical psychologist in the State of California. Her full time private practice focuses on issues related to divorce and parenting. Her interest in collaborative law began as she sought a way to help families minimize the trauma as they navigated the legal and emotional process of divorce and restructuring of their family. She is on the Board of the Marin County Collaborative Law practice group, and recently formed a Bay Area wide study group for advanced clinicians who work in the area of collaborative law. Her interest and work in the area of stress includes her dissertation research (examining the relationship between stress and the onset of an autoimmune disorder). She volunteered for a number of years as a âStress Managerâ with the Marin County Office of Emergency Services, and now volunteers with Marin Medical Reserve Corps and with First Responder Support Network, a residential treatment program for emergency personnel and their families. She has helped children and families since 1993, raised six children, and understands the stresses that families often experience.

Suzan Barrie Aiken, JD is a collaborative family law attorney and mediator committed to facilitating respectful negotiation and creative settlements. Suzan is the President of the Family Law Professionals of Marin with more than twelve years of collaborative law experience. For the past five years, she has devoted her practice exclusively to collaborative law, mediation, and negotiated agreements. She regularly serves as a Pro Tem Settlement Judge in San Francisco and Settlement Panelist in Marin, and previously served as an arbitrator for the Bar Association of San Francisco. Suzan is a founding member of Collaborative Practice California and the Northern California Public Education Committee for Collaborative Practice. Suzan was a Co-Chair of the Third Annual Collaborative Practice California Conference.

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